Bay Area Cities Maintain Homeless Encampment Clearing Policies During Super Bowl

Officials say sweeps are part of year-round strategy, not a temporary response to major events

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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As the San Francisco Bay Area hosts Super Bowl LX, local officials in San Jose, San Francisco, and Santa Clara say they have no plans to alter their ongoing policies of clearing homeless encampments, even as the region sees an influx of visitors. Leaders in these cities have made encampment clearings a priority in recent years, with San Jose's mayor even making it a centerpiece of his administration. Advocates raise concerns that the timing of these sweeps around major events like the Super Bowl is intentional, but officials deny that the big game is a factor, stating the clearings are part of their standard year-round approach to addressing homelessness.

Why it matters

The Bay Area's approach to homeless encampments during the Super Bowl stands in contrast to how some cities have traditionally handled major events, often clearing camps and relocating unhoused individuals out of sight of visitors. This shift reflects a broader trend of cities taking a more aggressive, year-round stance on homelessness, even as advocates raise concerns about the impacts on vulnerable populations.

The details

San Jose has conducted over 2,000 encampment clearings citywide since February 2025, including breaking up clusters of RVs and directing residents into temporary shelters. San Francisco has also expanded shelter and treatment capacity while increasing outreach and enforcement efforts under Mayor Daniel Lurie. Officials in both cities say these efforts are part of their ongoing strategies, not a response to the Super Bowl. However, advocates argue the timing of some recent sweeps, such as one in San Jose 2 miles from downtown, raises concerns about intentional targeting around the big game.

  • Between February 2025 and last week, San Jose conducted more than 2,000 encampment clearings citywide.
  • From July 2024 through February 2025, San Jose reported clearing 530 encampments.
  • On January 15, 2026, San Jose police conducted a sweep of an encampment 2 miles south of downtown, leading to nearly a dozen arrests.

The players

Matt Mahan

The mayor of San Jose who has made encampment clearings a centerpiece of his administration since taking office in 2023.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco who has prioritized clearing encampments while offering shelter beds and behavioral health treatment.

Silicon Valley De-Bug

An advocacy group that published an open letter criticizing the timing of a recent San Jose encampment sweep near the Super Bowl.

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What they’re saying

“These efforts are part of San Jose's ongoing, year-round strategy to reduce homelessness with compassion, dignity and long-term solutions — not a one-time response tied to a single event.”

— Tasha Dean, Spokesperson for San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (santacruzsentinel.com)

“This is all particularly appalling, and we believe intentionally timed, given the backdrop of the Super Bowl coming to the South Bay.”

— Silicon Valley De-Bug, Advocacy group (santacruzsentinel.com)

What’s next

The debate over the timing and impacts of homeless encampment clearings is expected to continue after the Super Bowl, as the Bay Area prepares to host additional major events like March Madness and World Cup soccer matches later this year.

The takeaway

The Bay Area's approach to homeless encampments during the Super Bowl reflects a broader shift in how cities are handling homelessness, with a focus on year-round enforcement and temporary shelter rather than temporary measures for major events. However, this strategy continues to draw criticism from advocates who argue the timing of sweeps around high-profile occasions is intentional and harmful to vulnerable populations.